Many cities are defined by the college that is located in them. College towns have a large population of students, and many of them spend most of their time on campus. Although I have nothing against these schools, I feel so blessed to attend a school located in the middle of a downtown area and only a mile from the coast.

Charleston, SC consistently ranks as one of the top places to live in the United States; charming its residents with delicious food, beautiful beaches and old-fashioned architecture. With a population of about 130,000 people, College of Charleston only makes up a small fraction of the city's population, which adds a unique dynamic to attending school there. Instead of the school dominating the city, the city sets the stage for thousands of students to live and learn.

I love being able to walk the city streets of Charleston outside of campus to get some fresh air and enjoy what the city has to offer. One block over from my dorm is King Street, arguably the most famous street in Charleston and definitely one of the most popular tourist stops. King Street offers great shopping and some of the best food that South Carolina has to offer (when I can scrape up enough money to be able to buy a nice seafood dinner). Market Street is a few blocks beyond King, but still within easy walking distance, and it offers the Holy Grail of shopping: the Charleston Market, which sells anything imaginable. I love the colorful, historic southern architecture and the feel of being in a city, not restricted to a college campus.

My favorite perk of living in Charleston is its proximity to the coastline. South Carolina has an abundance of beautiful beaches, and Charleston sits right on top of most of them. When the weather is warm and I have a free weekend, I love to go to the beach. The weather stays hot all year round, which allows students to enjoy beach days even in the middle of December and January. One short drive takes me to the water and sand where I splash in the ocean, play volleyball with friends and nap in the sun to relax and unwind. If it's cold, which is rare, it's still fun to walk on the pier, and sometimes there are even movies shown on the beach.

Charleston represents the best of both worlds for a college student, because it offers both a city to explore and beaches to relax on. The city's diversity and character continues to grow as time passes, and I am so thankful to be able to attend college in such a unique place. I love you, Charleston, SC, and I am so excited for the next three years here.